Breast Lump

Hi thanks for letting me know, u could always phone the booking department for mamogramms and ask to be put on the cancellation list , that's what I did, try anything you can to be seen quicker.  The sooner you can put your mind at ease the better.  

Hello Deb

Thanks for your letter.

I am so glad that you have now been seen, and are now in the system.  I really hope that they can fit you in for a mammogram sooner rather than later - it is the waiting that is so hard to bear.

I know it is difficult, when completely preoccupied by anxiety, but please try to look after yourself, especially as you have clearly been very poorly until recently.

Btw - the pain you describe sounds very much as if you have strained your pectoralis major tendon.  This is the large tendon that runs across the front of your armpit, next to the side of your breast, if you hold your arm up to the side, as if pretending it was a wing.  It can be quite painful, and tenderness may be present under the upper, outer quadrant of the breast. It may have been caused by repetitively using your left arm (particularly if you are right handed) for something unusual for you - tennis, decorating, heavy weeding and so on.  It doesn't sound typical for anything unpleasant associated with a breast lump.  If I am correct - and it is hard to say from an e-mail, as you may imagine! - then stop doing whatever is aggravating it, and try an NSAID (if you can tolerate them) such as Ibuprofen or diclofenac.  Rest it, but make sure that you keep gently moving your shoulder through its full range of movement - perhaps in  the shower or bath - so that your shoulder doesn't get stiff.  Physio may help.

Take care

M x